VACUUM CLEANER IMPLEMENT TRAY

• US 3,778,863 A
• Filed: 08/02/1972
• Issued: 12/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Floor Care Company
• Original Assignee: David G. Koland, George A. Westergren, Stanley R. Crooks
• Inventors: Westergren, George A., Koland, David G., Crooks, Stanley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/277,321
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 15/323,257 312/140.4
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood cooperatively defining an internal storage space in which is removably received a tray for holding implements, such as tools adapted for use with the vacuum cleaner. The tray is supported above the filter bag space and is readily removable therefrom when the hood is moved to an open position. The hood and tray are provided with cooperating releasable locking means for locking the tray in a closed position to the top surface of the hood, in which position the implements are accessible for use by the operator. The tray includes a depending wall which rests on the hood surface in the implement-exposing arrangement and which is adapted to cooperate with suitable supports for retaining the tray above the filter bag space in the storage position.

Claims

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood cooperatively defining a storage space, means for selectively storing within said storage space a plurality of implements adapted for use with the vacuum cleaner or supporting the implements in an accessible position on said hood exteriorly of the canister, said implement storing and supporting means comprising:

a tray defining an upper implement carrying surface;

a peripheral, depending wall on said tray defining a substantially planar bottom edge;

means on said base defining upwardly opening slots for receiving and supporting spaced portions of said tray wall edge; and

means defining cooperating male and female connectors on said tray and hood for releasably locking said tray on the top of said hood with said wall edge supported on the top of the hood.

2. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said slot means on the base defines a plurality of spaced perpendicularly related shoulders for engaging the side of said tray peripheral wall adjacent said edge to retain the tray substantially against lateral displacement in said storage space.

3. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said hood comprises a downwardly opening concave member and said supporting means on said base supports said tray to extend upwardly from said base into the concave hood space.

4. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said connector means on said tray are disposed inwardly of said peripheral wall to be hidden from view when said tray is carried on said hood with said wall edge supported on said top of the hood.

5. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said slot means on said base are formed integrally therewith.

6. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said male and female connector means are formed integrally with said tray and hood.

7. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a male connector means defined by a hook, a female connector means defined by a slot removably receiving said hook and having a latch shoulder engaging said hook to retain the tray on the hood, and locking means for holding said hook in retaining association with said latch shoulder including a spring finger on one of said tray or cover elements, and a cam surface on the other of said elements disposed to guide the finger to a locking position wherein removal of the hook from the female connector means requires a camming of the finger against the resiliency thereof whereby said finger cooperates with said cam surface to releasably maintain the hook engaged with said latch shoulder.

8. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a male connector means defined by a hook, a female connector means defined by a slot removably receiving said hook and having a latch shoulder engaging said hook to retain the tray on the hook, and means for releasably maintaining the hook engaged with said latch shoulder.

9. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises four sets of cooperating male and female means, each set comprising means defined by a hook, a female connector means defined by a slot removably receiving said hook and having a latch shoulder engaging said hook to retain the tray on the hood, and means adjacent two of said sets for releasably maintaining the hook engaged with said latch shoulder.

10. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said tray upper surface defines a plurality of upwardly opening implement receiving compartments extending from adjacent the plane of said peripheral wall bottom edge.

11. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 1 wherein said tray upper surface defines a plurality of upwardly opening implement receiving compartments extending from adjacent the plane of said peripheral wall bottom edge and said connector means on the tray are disposed laterally inwardly of the peripheral wall and laterally outwardly of said compartments.

12. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a hood cooperatively defining a storage space, means for selectively storing within said storage space a plurality of implements adapted for use with the vacuum cleaner or supporting the implements in an accessible position on said hood exteriorly of the canister, said implement storing and supporting means comprising:

a tray defining an upper implement carrying surface;

a peripheral, depending wall on said tray defining a substantially planar bottom edge;

means on said base for receiving and supporting spaCed portions of said tray wall edge; and

means defining cooperating male and female connectors on said tray and hood for releasably locking said tray on the top of said hood with said wall edge supported on the top of the hood, said base and hood further cooperatively defining a filter bag space subjacent said storage space for removably receiving a filter bag for receiving and holding dirt from dirt laden air delivered thereto, said base supporting means being disposed laterally of and substantially at the top of said filter bag space.

13. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 12 wherein said supporting means are disposed at four corners of said filter bag space.

14. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 12 wherein said tray fully overlies and is substantially congruent with said filter bag space.

15. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 12 wherein said base is provided with a catch for releasably engaging a portion of said hood for holding said hood in closed position on said base and said tray includes a laterally outwardly opening recess for exposing said catch for engagement by said hood holding portion.

16. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 12 wherein said base includes side walls defining an upper edge, said filter bag space being disposed substantially fully below said base edges, and said tray being supported by said supporting means to extend upwardly from the level of said edge into said storage space within the hood.

17. The vacuum cleaner storing and supporting means of claim 12 wherein said tray supporting means on the base is arranged to permit free movement of the tray upwardly therefrom and effectively precludes lateral movement of the tray thereon, for facilitating access to the filter bag space such as for replacing the filter bag.